Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1887-10-05
tried to think soberly what had done.

tried to think soberly what had done.
A villain was punished; the meanest,
most treacherous, most cold blooded
scoundrelism ever perpetrated had re-
ceived some sort of q tit reward. In
few days, perhaps in a few hours, the
traitor would find his hearthstone prised
up, and his treasure gone. A few hours
more, and he would discover that his prize
from Dams unlucky run was not worth
the kegs which contained 1t.
And yet I was unsatisfied. All this
would not give me back my lover, nor
bring homo Dan and the boys, nor undo
the misery Of the past three weeks.
thirsted for more revenge.
When I rose to 60 home the splendid
sun was rising over the waters of the
channel, and the morning was clear and
bright. Far off on the horizon saw the
sails of great feet. 1t must be Nelson's
fleet. Among the ships somewhere were
those loved, going away to sea to face
battle, sudden death, shipwreck, plague
and pestilence, all by the act of one man.
Ilay at homo oil that morning asleep.
At 10 o'clock Mrs. Agus, surprised at my
long sleep, awakened me and brought me
some dinner.
Then began to think again.
81 In the afternoon arrived my excisenaaps
"Have you done anything to Joshua
Mech, Pleasance9" he asked, in breath
less way, 80 that knew he must have
heard something.
''Done anything?"
GAY. Joshua's been robbed-he's been
robbed OF all his money. He's been tear
ing round town all day. Ho! no! hope
the information money was with 1t, too.
Who could have robbed him9"
"Who could?" echoed.
ut must have been some one who had
spite against him. Who but you had
spite? Oh! Pleasance, Pleasance! it's O
hanging matter!'
"Don't talk wild," I replied. 1T
Joshua is robbed, SO much the better. l
am glad Of it.'
John Beer shook his head. He was
only half satisfied.
"To be sure" he said, ''I've seen gyp-
sizes about. You know best. Well, and
how about the kegs, Pleasance"
II will give you the kegs at once II you
will do me another favor. Nay, it Is not
to tell me more about Joshua; know
quite enough. It is only to carry some
brandy to Parson Burdens"
"Why, I'll do that" he said, briskly,
land more, for your sake"
He took the wheelbarrow and very
soon was trundling my present, which l
had resolved to say was Dams, to the
good old rector.
On the way he mentioned casually that
a press gang was in the neighborhood.
"They don't know it, the boys at Lyme,
else they'd keep at home for a day or two
There'll be good few sailors more aboard
his majesty's ships when that gang haS
done its business"
thought nothing ut the time.
But later on started, remembering
that Joshua had promised to deliver
twenty kegs that morning, and that at
daybreak he would be at the hiding place.
Another thought struck me.
had no doubt, knowing the nature OF
the business, and the haste made after a
run to get the cargo safely slowed away
and disposed of, that Joshua intended to
take it all in two loads, probably one that
morning and one the next. This knowl-
edge put q fatal power into my hands. l
turned the thought over in my mind till
it became resolution, clear and deter
mined. Since Joshua had sent Dan and
all Of them away to sea, he should go too.
OF course they could not take miller
from his mill-no. But suppose Joshua
was caught, in boatman's rig, handling
his kegs in Rousdon bay!
When John Beer had taken the rector
his brandy, and carried off his own to
some secure place which he knew of,
probably to friend in the town, burn
ing desire came over me to see Joshua
Mech face to face and to triumph over
his misfortunes. Tired as was with my
long nights work, fastened to put on
my hat and set off once more for my
three mile walk across the fields.
I cannot pretend to anything but a
feverish joy that so far my weary head
suffered. I knew how mean and parsi
monious he was, how he pinched and
saved, denying himself luxuries and liv-
ing hardly, in order to feel richer every
day. was quite certain that his chief
pleasure was to open his hiding place
secretly and count his treasures. Irejoiced
to think how, in these moments, there
was mixed up q feeling that he was saving
up ullu uO" GHiO "oulo
be an additional stab for him. For me!
Was it possible, even without his super
human wickedness, for me to look upon
another man after my glorious Will?
So he had already found out his loss.
That was strange. Did he, then, look in
the morning to see if it was safe? But
perhaps the open window and the hanging
shutter awakened his suspicious. should
soon know. AS drew near the mill, and
looked down upon it from the top Of the
steep lane leading from the high road,
could not help feeling the contrast be-
tween the beauty of the place and the an-
gry passions of it's master and the girl
who was going to visit him. But had
to hide my Indignation. composed my
features as well as I could, and crossed
his orchard.
Joshua was sitting on the bench outside
the mill The wheel was slowly going
round and round, with its monotonous
sound, and the mill was ut work. But
it's master sat motionless, his head on his
hands. He was trying to think who could
have robbed him.
"Joshuan I cried; Joshua! What is
the matter? Are you asleep"
IT wish I was" he replied, hoarsely.
II think I shall never be able to sleep
again. What do you want, Pleasance?"
II came to tell you, Joshua, that I saw
the fleet pass along the horizon this morn
ing. 1t must be Nelson's. Dan and the
rest must be aboard one of the ships"
GAY, ay; no doubt Well, they-they-
they will get through it, daresay."
ooh, Joshua, what villain must he be
who informed against them! What could
we do - that villain to punish him prop
erly? Tell me, Joshua"
"Do-do? What could we do? Put
him in the duckpond, suppose" he re-
piled wearily.
s"That would not be half enough, Joshua.
should like to take away all his money"
he started-"and to tell all the world,
and send him away forever with the
cures of the people"
GAY" he said, "never mind the in
former, Pleasance; listen to me. I've
been robbed"
"You, Joshua? You robbedH'
"I'vc been robbed of every farthing I
had. All in gold-all tied up in bags-all
the money I've been saving for years"
"All the money you saved to marry me
With"
'It is all gone"
''Then you can't marry me, which will
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